Copilot appears to ignore instructions when `applyTo` uses a file-specific glob pattern

[starlight173]

• Copilot Chat Extension Version: 0.37.1
• VS Code Version: 1.109.0
• OS Version: Windows
• Feature : Agent mode
• Selected model: Claude 4.5 Sonnet
• Logs: N/A (no errors logged)

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a Copilot instructions file at:
   .github/instructions/bloc.instructions.md

2. Add the following content:

   applyTo: "**/*.dart"

Always use Bloc instead of Cubit.
Never suggest GlobalKey unless absolutely required.

3. Open any .dart file in VS Code.

4. Use GitHub Copilot Chat to generate or edit code.

5. Observe that Copilot does not follow the instructions.

6. Change the instructions file to:

   applyTo: "**"

7. Repeat step 4.

8. Observe that Copilot does follow the instructions when applyTo is set to "**".

Expected Result:
Copilot should apply instructions when applyTo matches the current file (**/*.dart).

Actual Result:
Copilot appears to ignore instructions when applyTo uses a file-specific glob pattern, but works when using the global pattern "**".

[pwang347]

Hi @starlight173, thank you for reporting this. Note that when you set applyTo to something that isn't ** we show this pattern to the agent context and it will decide whether or not to read the instruction. You can also use the "Add context" button to explicitly attach the file as context and it should make the instruction apply based on the pattern as well. Let me know if this helps! Note that we have some more documentation on this in https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/custom-instructions

[vs-code-engineering]

Thanks for creating this issue! We figured it's missing some basic information or in some other way doesn't follow our issue reporting guidelines. Please take the time to review these and update the issue.

For Copilot Issues, be sure to visit our Copilot-specific guidelines page for details on the necessary information.

Happy Coding!

[vs-code-engineering]

This issue has been closed as it has been labeled with info-needed and has not received the additional information that was requested from the issue author. It has been labeled as info-needed for 7 days.